<p>When attempting to justify this rather bizarre acceptance, the HBS spokesman said that other college dropouts, such as Bill Gates and Michael Dell, would have been accepted had they applied. However, clearly Blake Gottesman, the president's aide, doesn't fall into that category, and I'm not sure there's any rational reason for Harvard's acceptance in this case, other than (undue) influence and use of connections.</p>
<p>So some college dropout deserves a shot at Harvard?</p>
<p>Really? Maybe they should release his public record on SAT/ACT scores and grades to show if he is actually worthy.</p>
<p>I don't think being friends with Mr. X should be a reason to gain admittance. Maybe I should go worship Bill Gates for a few years instead of finishin high school to see if my chaces for admission sky rocket.</p>
<p>I don't think you are necessarily being fair to this guy. First of all, he clearly wasn't an idiot; he spent his one year at college at Claremont McKenna, which suggests a strong high school record. He left in order to work on the Bush Campaign, which suggests a motivated, driven person, not an lack of committment as a student would also imagine that with eight years in the White House, his responsibilities were not confined to getting coffee for the pres. Not to say that he was making policy, but he probably did get some real word experience that would be valuable in the corporate world.</p>
<p>All the advice given to college students (at least at my school) stresses that, except for a few select fields, success in nearly any major can qualify you for a variety of professional schools. If a BA in English can get an MBA, why not the presdient's aide?</p>
<p>One of the major (if not <em>the</em> major) benefits of business school is networking. His attendance at HBS makes HBS more valuable to the other students there because of his incredible connections. Therefore it made sense for them to admit him. So sez my cynical side.</p>
<p>Why is everyone so judgemental of other peoples applications. I think HBS knows what they are doing (even if it is just to get in a little cozier with the pres.) From what I understand this guy doesn't deserve admission, but I've only read a slightly biased short story on it. Maybe he deserves it, maybe he doesn't either way, its not up to us to decide.</p>
<p>Well it's just quite dodgy that American higher education and politics can all quite easily be 'bought' with either money or connection. American politics is a pretty sinister world.. I'm surprised it works as well as it does.</p>
<p>I might agree with you if it were undergrad admissions, Ace, but Business School is all about hiring people that show potential to succeed in the business world. If someone is motivated and talented enough to scale the political ladder so quickly then they certainly show the desirable potential. And as someone said, if the guy could get into Claremont McKenna then he certainly has the intelligence to get through HBS. </p>
<p>It's not all about perfect GPAs you know. </p>
<p>And please don't get me started on British politics ;)</p>
<p>Bahh British politics - clean as a whistle ;)</p>
<p>No, British politics is just plain boring.</p>
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<p>His attendance at HBS makes HBS more valuable to the other students there because of his incredible connections.</p>
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<p>I don't think this is cynical. Lots of people are admitted to all kinds of schools because of how the general atmosphere or community will benefit. Admissions is not about the greatest fairness to the greatest number; it's about making the school as strong as possible.</p>
<p>bending the rules at the KSG?</p>
<p>"[Euan] Blair's admittance to Yale's graduate school has been a subject of interest in Great Britain since it was published that Blair, 22, was admitted to top-rated programs at both Harvard and Yale despite having received average grades at Bristol University and experiencing a much-publicized run-in with the law."</p>
<p>There was a good thread on this in the Parents Forum - quite a range of viewpoints on it. Here's the link:</p>
<p>I would love for someone to explain this one.</p>